Jet motor container



April 6 1954 w. T. BLAcKlNToN JET MOTOR CONTAINER 5 Sheets-Shet lOriginal Filed Nov. l16. 1949 V. m w m m m.\ a c V f JE A m f J I I I lI I It llllllllllllllllllllll Y f2. r /l/ Y +12? h 'Ik Q W. T. BLCKINTONJET MOTOR CONTAINER April 6, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Nov.16, 1949 INVENTOR. h/d [27er Z BY April 6, 1954 w. T. BLACKINTON JETMOTOR CONTAINER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Nov. 16, 1949 April 6,1954 w. T. BLAcKlNToN 2,674,371 JET MOTOR CONTAINER Original Filed Nov.16,-'1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 April 5 l954 w; T. BLACKINTON 2,674,371

JET MOTOR CONTAINER Original Filed' Nov. 16, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5-BM/fw,

Patented Apr. 6, 1954 UNITED STATES ATNT QFFICE Wayne Foundry & Stam apartnership Continuation of appiication ping Co., Detroit, Mich.,

Serial No. 127,690,

November 16, 1949. This application January 8, 1953, Serial No. 330,324

12 Claims.

This application is a continuation of Serial No. 127,690, filed November16, 1949, and now abandoned.

This invention relates to shipping and storage containers andparticularly to such containers for jet-type engines.

Jet engines of the type presently used in aircraft, particularlymilitary aircraft, have a relatively short useful life between overhaulsand it is the practice to provide several spare engines for eachaircraft equipped with this class of propulsion device.

The problem of storing and shipping these engines has presented.difculties because of their bulky 4construction and because it isnecessary to seal the storage container against the entrance of air andmoisture to prevent corrosion.

It is therefore the primary object of my invention to provide animproved storage and shipping container for jet engines which willadequately protect an engine stored therein against physical damage andfrom damage due to exposure to the elements.

Further objects are to provide a container of the aforesaid type whichis easily manufactured,

readily adapted for handling by standard freight handling equipment,strong enough to withstand the hazards of shipping and handling, adaptedfor stacking in stacks of three or more, and which is provided withmeans for easily removing and replacing the engine.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingspecification which,v in connection with the accompanying drawings,describes preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a side elevation, with parts broken away to show sectionaldetails, of one form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a section along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig.' 3 is a front elevation of the -container of Fig. 1 with certainparts broken away to show details thereof;

Fig. 4 is a section along line iof Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a section alongline 5 5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a modified container;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of another modication of the invention;

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the Fig. 7 container with parts brokenaway to show details; and Fig. v9 is a sectional View along line 9--9 ofFig. 7.

` Referring Ato Figs. l to 5 inclusive, it may be seen that my improvedjet, engine container coni- (Cl. 20G-46) prises a cylindrical tank-likestructure l0 having a removable front portion il. The construction ispreferably of steel plates Welded or riveted together and is ofrelatively heavy section in the order of one-eighth inch in thickness.The cover portion il and the main portion l0 are respectively providedwith mating flanges i2 and I3 (see detail Fig. 5) which are adapted toabut one another for securing the two portions together. A resilientgasket I5 is provided for sealing the joint between the fianges againstentry of air and moisture and the fastening bolts M are adapted to betightened to provide metal to metal contact of the iianges.

The flanges l2 and I3 are arranged at an oblique angle (approximately 45has been found satisfactory) with respect to the horizontal and verticalaxes of the container and at such a position lengthwise thereof thatwhen the cover l l is removed the opening thereby provided extends aconsiderable distance rearwardly at the top and sides and diminishestoward the bottom such that substantially all of the bottom lengthremains for support and protection of the engine.

Reinforcing metal straps i6 having folding hook-eyes pivotally mountedthereto are provided for hoisting the container as a unit and forremoving the cover portion.

The cylindrical portion of the container is supported in a rectangularcradle Iii', the sides l5 thereof extending about halfway upwardly ofeach side of the tank and being shorter than the tank (see Fig. l). Thesides are cut off at their forward ends on an oblique line correspondingwith the flange i3. Wooden skid rails i8 are bolted or otherwisesecurely fastened to feet provided at each corner of the cradle. Pillowblocks I9 incorporating rubber shock absorber pads 2B are disposedbetween the rails and feet.

Near each end of the container in vertical alignment with the ends ofthe cradle side portions, and at the central portion of the container,rectangular saddles ii are provided. These saddles are welded to thecylinder over the ren inforcing straps it and are provided with ledges2l for receiving the skid rails of a second container. By this means itis possible to stack containers several tiers high and thus conservespace on shipboard or loading dock.

The jet engine itself is shown in outline by the broken line Z in Figs.l and 3. This type of engine is usually provided with trunnion members23 for mounting in the airplane, and in come models a link 2d is carriedai; one end, for

i securing the engine in' the airplane against rock- `the -wall I" theblister. -28 consist or" afpair of rubber .doughnuts 25 bonded at theirinner peripheral surfacesto a ing. I have utilized these standard enginemountings for suspending the engine in the container such that theengine is rmly supported therein and insulated against shocks, yeteasily placed in the container and removed therefrom.

On each sideof the container, I have provided a blister which houses thesupporting means for the engine. This supporting means, shown in sectionin Fig. 4, comprises a pair cf rails 26 resiliently mounted at each sideof the container in such position that the jet engine may be supportedin the container by means of the trunnion members 23.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. l to 5, inclusive, the rails 2tare formed of relatively heavy cast metal and are yieldably mounted onthe longitudinally disposed members 21 by the cushion members 23. Thelongitudinal members 21 are welded or otherwise securely afxed to thecylindrical side walls I of the container and to The. cushion membershollow member 32. The upper doughnut .carries an-annular plate 3ldisposed axially thereof and ybonded to the rubber approximately.centrally of the axial length thereof. This plate extendscircumferentially of the cushion member and the circumferentiallyextending portion is adapted to be received in slots '32 formed inthedownl `wardly extending portionof the rail 26. A similar Aplate33carried bythe lower doughnut 29 is received in slots 34 formed in theangle members 35 which are carried by the side members 21. Safety plates36 are carried by thehellow members'3i! for preventing completeseparation of the doughnuts 29- and the member-3:7 in the event the bondbetween the rubber and metal should be` broken in use.

In the embodiment being described, three 5 cushion members 28 are usedfor supporting each of the elongated rails 26. Obviously, amore or lessnumber of cushion members. may be used if desired.

.The rails 2li are each provided with a tapered vslot or way 31 forreceiving tapered rollers 38 carried `by the engine trunnions 23. Therollers 38 are rotatably secured on stub axles 39 which stub axles aremounted in a trunnion bracket 4u. The brackets 40 each carry a hangermember 4| which extends forwardly and downwardly of the container asshown in Figs. l and 3. The two hangers di meet ata point aligned withYthe link'24 and have a socket formed therein'for receiving thel ball onthe end of said link. Suitable .bolts 42 are provided for securing theball end of the link in the socket.

The procedure for mounting an engine in the container just described isas follows:

The special brackets 40 are bolted to the engine over the regular enginetrunnion .brackets and the rollers- 38 mounted thereon. The engine isthen picked up by a crane or other hoist and lowered into the tankthrough the opening provided by removing the cover Il. The rollers 38are guided into the slots 31 at the forward ends of the rails 26 and theengine is urged rearwardly until the hangers 4I can be fastened aboutthe ball at the bottom of link' 24.

The cover li may then be lifted by means of the eye l1 and placed on themain body of the container whereupon the bolts I4 are tightened untilthe flanges Yi2 and I3 meet, compressing' the gasket I5 tomake anair-.tight seal. The container is then in condition for handling,shipping and stacking without danger of damaging the jet motor containedtherein. The motor is easily removed from the tank by reversing thesteps just described.

Fig. 6 illustrates a modified form of my im- ,proved container whereinthe rails -26 are elongated and are supported at their front ends by apair of cushion members 28 and at their rear -ends by a single cushionmember. This form of Yshown in, Fig. 7

The rails are each suspended in the -tank by means of six cushionmembers 5I. The latter are positioned at each side of the tank, threeabove and three below the rail atfeach .-sideas shown. The cushionmembers. are mounted on annular plates 52 which are welded to.the/interior of the blisters 53, thelatter in `turn being welded to thetank Wall around the opening provided for accommodation of -the cushionmounting.

The rails 50 are suspended from the cushion members by means of thechannel-shaped hangers 54. The hangers are `providedwitha groove forreceiving one of the platescarried by one of the rubber .biscuits of.the cushion member in a manner similar to the mounting shown in Fig. 4,andthe other end of the hanger is bolted to the rail as indicated at 55.It is apparent then that the rails .50 .are yieldably mounted inthe tanksuch. thatthey. have limited universal movement yet give nrm v.supportto the engine carried thereon. If desired, a greater number of cushionmembers maybe utilized, depending upon the weight .and size of .the jetengine to be accommodated.

In this modification of the invention, .the jet engine is supported attwo points on each side. In Fig. 8, the line 56 represents one sideof..an engine. Brackets 51, such asthat shown .in section in the ligure,are bolted or otherwisesecured to the engine at spaced points on eachside thereof. Eachof these brackets 51 has a .rounded socket adapted toraise the rounded end 58 of the stubaxle which carried the roller 59.Rollers 59 are of the same cone shape as those .used in the modicationspreviously described and are adapted to run in the undercut groovesprovided in the rails 50 as illustrated.

As previously'mentioned, the rails 50 extend outwardly of the containerbody whenthe cover 6I is removed. Afteran engine is mounted in thecontainer, lock bars 62 (shown in. dotted lines in Figs. 7 and 9)areinserted in the grooves in each of the rails for locking the enginein place. The lock bars are provided with a bifurcated end for engagingthe stub axle adjacent the ball portion 58 thereof. 'The grooves in therails extend only part way of the length thereof thereby limitingrearward travel of the rollers 59.

To prevent displacement of the lock 'bars B2 and brace the forward endsof therails 50 against each other, a transverse bar 63 isdisposed'between the rails and connected thereto'4 by means of pins 64in the manner of the familiarhinge joint.l

The form of container presently being described is provided near itsends with hoops t5 and 66. These hoops are fabricated of steel platesand are rounded in shape at the top and sides such that the containerwill be protected against severe shock if accidentally rolled over andmay be easily rolled back on its skid rails if overturned. Eyes (il forthe reception of a crane hook are provided at the top of the hoops and areinforcing bar 68 is welded in the hoop above each eye to distributethe stress during lifting.

The forward hoop 66 is separable at points adjacent the flanges of thecover to facilitate quick removal of the cover. The top portion of thehoop S6 carries a pair of studs G9 adapted to be received in theapertures 'l0 at each side of the lower portion.

It may thus be seen that I have provided an improved container forjetmotors which provides full and adequate protection for the motorduring storage and shipping. It is frequently necessary for the militaryservices to store spare motors for months, even years, and to transportthem to remote bases, sometimes with primitive forms of transport. Inmany instances facilities for removing the motors from the containers isnot all that could be desired and in time of military emergency it isfrequently necessary to change aircraft motors in a few moments.

My container is adapted to meet all conditions likely to be encounteredin storing, handling, transporting, and in the eld; and while I haveillustrated and described only a few of the preferred forms of myinvention, it is to be understood that other forms are contemplated andI do not intend to limit my invention to the precise forms shown, butonly as set forth in the claims appended below.

I claim:

l. A storage and shipping container for engines comprising a normallyhorizontally disposed cylindrical body separable along a plane disposedobliquely to the axis thereof and ext,

tending from one end of the container at the bottom thereof to a pointat the top or the container intermediate the ends into a main portionand a cover portion, mating flanges carried by said portions, a cradlefor supporting said body, said cradle having side walls extendingupwardly of said body to a line substantially midway of the heightthereof and terminating at the cover end at the plane of said flanges.

2. A shipping and storage container for en gines comprising a normallyhorizontally disposed cylindrical body separable into a main portion anda cover portion, a pair of rails disposed axially inside said main bodyportion at each side thereof for mounting an engine, means mounting saidrails including yieldable members permitting limited movement of saidrails in all directions, said mounting means comprising a supportrigidly mounted in said body portion at each side and above the bottomthereof, a plurality of cushion members secured to said support inlongitudinally spaced relation and extending vertically upwardly thereofand means for securing the rail to the cushion members upwardly o1 saidsupport.

3. In a storage and shipping container for an engine of the typeprovided with trunnion supports at each side thereof and a stabilizinglink at one end thereof, rails disposed longitudinally ci? saidcontainer, means for mounting said ena substantially rectangular cradlefor supporting ysaid cylindrical body, skid rails disposedlongitudinally at the bottom of said cradle, saddle members nXed to saidbody at each end thereof, saidsaddle members having step portions formedthereon at the top thereof for receiving said skid rails therebypermitting several containers to be stacked vertically.

5. In a storage and shipping container for engines, a pair of railsyieldably mounted in said container and extending longitudinallythereof, an undercut groove in each of said rails, a plurality of coneshaped rollers adapted to run in said grooves, each of said rollersbeing mounted on a stub axle terminating in a ball, and mountingbrackets having sockets for receiving said balls, said brackets beingadapted for mounting on said engine at spaced points whereby the enginemay be suspended on said rails for restricted universal movement.

6. A storage and shipping container for engines comprising a cylindricalbody adapted t0 be opened for loading and unloading purposes, skid railssecured to the body at the bottom thereof, yieldable blocks disposedbetween the rails and body for absorbing shocks that might otherwise betransmitted to said body, protrusions on the sides of said body forhousing engine mounting means contained therein, and hoop members xed tosaid body near each end thereof, said hoop members being rounded attheir sides and top such that said container may be overturned withoutdamage.

7. A container in accordance with claim 6 wherein said hoop members areprovided with stepped portions at their upper portions for receiving theskid rails of another container thereby permitting several containers tobe vertically stacked.

8. A storage and shipping container for jet engines comprising acylindrical tank-like body, means for separating said body along a planeoblique to the axis thereof into a main portion and a cover portion, apair of rails mounted in said body and extending axially at each sidethereof, said rails extending outwardly of said main portion when thecover portion is removed, means for yieldably suspending said rails insaid body such that they may have restricted universal movement, saidsuspension means including resilient members disposed at spaced pointsaxially of the container and above and below said rails.

9. A container according to claim 8 wherein rollers are provided forrunning in said rails and means is provided for mounting said rollers onan engine for universal movement relatively thereto.

l0. A shipping and storage container for engines comprising a normallyhorizontally disposed cylindrical body separable into a main portion anda cover portion, a pair of rails disposed axially inside said main bodyportion at each side thereof for mounting an engine, means mountlng saidrails including yieldable members perabefmgafzr mitting limited movementof said railsy in all directionsvsaid mountingmeans comprising a sup.-port rigidly-mounted in said body portion at each side and above thebottom thereof, a cushion member secured to said support and extendingvertically upwardly thereof, and means for securing the rail to thecushion member upwardly ofsaid support.

11. A shipping container for a jet engine comprising, a rst shelland asecond shell each havingvend Walls and adapted to meet along a plane toform a closed cylindrical container, means along the confrontingedges ofsaid shells to connect, the rst shell to the second shell, meansattached to the first shell to serve as containersupportingandfloor-contacting elements, bracket means on opposite sides of said firstshell and rigidly attached thereto on the `inside surface, resilientsupportingr elements mounted on said brackets, a pair of engine bearingbeams at opposit@ sides of said rst shell and supported by saidresilient supporting elements, and trun- 8 {support-ing devices: one.;each; 'off sal'd :beams and adapted to removably retain laterallypmjecting trunnions fixed onA said jet engine at opposite sides thereof.

12. `A shipping container for a jet enginecomprising, a rst shell and asecond-shell adapted to meet along their peripheral edges to form-aclosed container, means along the confronting edges of said shells toconnect'the first shell to thel second shell, a plurality ofl bracketmeans on opposite sides of said first shell. and rigidiy attachedthereto on the inside surface.V resilient supporting elements 4mountedon said brackets and including rubber cushioning blocks, apair ofsimilar parallel. engine bearing beams-at opposite sides of saidrstshell and supportedzby said resilient supportingl elements, andyengine supporting brackets on eachoff. said -beams andadapted toremovably retain projecting.- elements fixed onsaid engine atopposite-.sidesf'thereo Noy references` cited.

